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Rant and Rave: Harry Potter Page to Screen—The Complete Filmmaking Journey

The appearance of Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe came as a surprise to many after the last Harry Potter film was shown; it is now sending fans into frenzy over the secrets and special facts that can only be found in the large volume. The book has five…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Defending the Caveman’

Never judge a play by its flyer. Defending the Caveman, starring Joel Trinidad, and directed by Michael Williams and Cathy Azanza-Dy, staged a show about the battle of the sexes. Trinidad, in his fourth portrayal as the caveman/protagonist, entertained the audience in a monologue; he explained the cultural differences between men and women. Moreover, he…

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Rant and Rave: The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Once in a blue moon, there comes a piece of new literature that evokes so many incomprehensible emotions, all at the same time. All the words are so beautifully arranged together that the piece creates an entirely new reality. New young adult fiction rarely reach this standard, but Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare exceeds all…

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Rant and Rave: ‘How to Save A Life’ by Sara Zarr

Everyday, many stories are written and printed– most of them with the same generic plotline of typical teen romance. These stories are easily forgettable because they are common. There are, however, stories that move people and draw them into a world beyond paper and ink; case in point, How To Save A Life by Sara…

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Rant and Rave: ‘The Son of Neptune’

The curtain yet again opens and unleashes the dimension of Greek gods, demigods and monsters, alike. Rick Riordan’s second instalment to The Heroes of Olympus series picks up where its prequel left off. Whereas we were introduced to Jason Grace in The Lost Hero, we again see our all-time favourite missing hero, Percy Jackson, fighting…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Stomp’

Last October 18 to 23, Stomp graced the Philippine stage at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abellardo at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Unlike most international stage performances, Stomp does not make use of dramatic storylines, song numbers, or even words; it combines the most essential elements of a performance through various creative and unconventional ways.…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Silence’ by Becca Fitzpatrick

Almost every novel gracing the Young Adult section of bookstores everywhere fall into the same generic love story trap. “Silence” by Becca Fitzpatrick, among the gushy little novels, offers a welcome change from all the predictable fluff. Silence is the third installment in the Hush, Hush series; the storyline revolves around two lovers whose romance…

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Rant and Rave: ‘Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies’ by Matt Mogk

People are more and more fascinated by the various creatures of the whimsical fictional world with every new release of some fantasy movie or novel. A creature that has been gaining some attention lately is the zombie. There are not many movies or books that explain what a zombie really is. Thankfully, that problem has…

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Pottermore: A Living Legacy of a Modern Classic

July 15, 2011 marked the end of an entire literary era for Potterheads because of the release of the final Harry Potter movie. It seemed like it was finally time to completely let go of the magic, until (like magic) a ray of hope appeared—Pottermore. Pottermore is a website conceptualized by the author of the…

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Rant and Rave: The Night Circus

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves – a magical circus seemingly woven from a dream and an enchanting feast for the senses. One can take delight in the black-and-white atmosphere, the luscious caramel apples and the spiralling acrobats, as the plot driven by the onslaught of forbidden love intensifies and enmeshes you into the strings…